April 8, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama How a support system helps me persevere on my MS journey My graduation ceremony at the University of Texas at Austin had just ended, and there were swarms of people everywhere I looked. I was sweating profusely in the summer heat and overstimulated by the large crowds. Thankfully, my mom called to tell me where my family was waiting for me.
September 3, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD i-Belong App Aims to Expand Online MS Patient Communities Belong.Life has launched an app that allows health professionals to build and manage their own online communities of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Called i-Belong ā Connecting Communities, the app offers to healthcare providers, pharmaceuticals, and patient advocacy and other groups a platform to effectively and efficiently educate…
June 18, 2021 Columns by Jamie Hughes You Donāt Always Need to Fix It I donāt know if youāve noticed, but most people donāt like a problem without a solution. If something isnāt working correctly, theyād rather fix, alter, or throw it out and start all over than live with āwrongness.ā Now, thatās great when it involves garage door openers, burnt-out lightbulbs, or shoddy…
June 5, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Icompanion App Enables Patients to Track Symptoms, Understand MRI Scans IcometrixĀ launched a new digital platform, icompanion, to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) track their disease and understandĀ MRI scans. The platform, currently available in English, French, German, and Dutch, Ā consists of a phone app for patients and a web-based dashboard to help clinicians track patients and…
May 26, 2020 News by Vanessa Pataia MS Association of America Opens COVID-19 Webinars, Other Resources to Community The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is opening its resources to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) duringĀ COVID-19, including a webinar series on the pandemic and easier access to its support programs, the association…
May 22, 2020 News by Mary Chapman MedTech Breakthrough Cites RxMx and Roche for MS Patient App For a comprehensive support app developed for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients,Ā RxMxĀ and Roche have won the Patient Engagement Innovation Award from Medtech Breakthrough. The fourth annual awards program recognized top health and medical technology products and companies. Healthcare company RxMx and pharmaceutical company Roche collaborated to produce…
May 19, 2020 Columns by Jessie Ace The Importance of Connecting with Family āYou canāt say that!ā Screams erupted over our Zoom chat resulting in infectious laughter. Admittedly, it was rude, too rude to mention, especially considering the unexpectedness of who said it.Ā Fun and laughter are whatās keeping us all going right now.
May 5, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Belong.Life Launches App to Support MS Patients and Healthcare Professionals Belong.Life has launched a free and anonymous social network app to offer support for people with multiple sclerosis (MS),Ā their caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The app is called BelongMS andĀ is now available…
February 17, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Number of People with MS in UK More Than Previously Estimated New data from Public Health England (PHE) and the U.K. MS Society show that the number of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United Kingdom is now more than 130,000 ā about one in every 500 people living in the country. This is an increase of…
February 3, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MSAA Marks 50th Anniversary with Benefit Evening, New Logo and More The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is celebrating 50 years of work and dedication to improving the lives of people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Some changes are underway and initiatives being launched to commemorate this milestone. MSAA, a nonprofit organizationĀ founded in 1970, aims to provide…
January 13, 2020 News by Mary Chapman MyHealthTeams, EMD Serono Launch Online Family Planning Resource Center for MS Patients To empower and support prospective mothers withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), MyHealthTeams ā a free social network for people with chronic medical conditions ā and pharmaceutical EMD Serono have launched the onlineĀ Family Planning Resource Center. The new center operates within the network’s MyMSTeam, and is sponsored in…
September 4, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD MS Relationships Improved by Togetherness and Communication, Study Suggests Relationships between multiple sclerosis patients and their intimate partners were enhanced when the couple worked together to make lifestyle changes, and to develop skills to improve communication, a study shows.Ā
July 10, 2019 News by Mary Chapman My MSAA Community Marks 3 Years of Supporting and Connecting People with MS This summer marks three years since the Multiple Sclerosis Association of AmericaĀ (MSAA) launched its free online forum, designed to support, inform, and uplift members of the multiple sclerosisĀ community.Ā The organization encourages all affected by MS to make use of this resource. Called My MSAA Community, the platform…
October 31, 2018 News by Mary Chapman Collaboration Formed to Further MS Education, and to Help MS Caregivers Can Do Multiple Sclerosis and Embracing Carers are collaborating to help caregivers better understand the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS), and to help them take better care of themselves. The collaboration enlisted Can Do MS, which delivers health and wellness education programs to families living with MS, to…
October 19, 2018 Columns by Jamie Hughes Forget Me Knots At work a couple of weeks ago, I met a man who works with Christians in the Middle East. He is training leaders who are taking on the challenge of leading small house churches in a nation that is openly hostile to the faith. I was simply amazed by…
October 19, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias I’m Too Tired to Write Tonight Please forgive me, but I’m too tired to write tonight. My wife had surgery last week, so I’ve been doing a couple of things that I haven’t done much in the 42 years since our wedding: shopping and cooking. (Well, making Harris Teeter ready-to-heat meals, that is. For…
October 8, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto National MS Society Awards $12M to 40 Research Projects in US and Elsewhere The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)Ā has pledged $12 million to support 40 new, multi-year research projects focused on āstopping MS, restoring lost function, and ending the disease forever,ā the organization announced in a press release. This commitment ā the last allocation set aside for research in 2018 ā…
September 13, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Relationships Can Thrive with MS Relationships are a quagmire in and of themselves. Throw in a chronic, progressive disease, and you have yourself quite the ride. This ride has excitability, steady inclines, crescendos, fun and free times, steep ravines, and shake-ups. Inevitably, balance is restored. That pretty much sums up my marriage. Let me…
June 29, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Updated ‘My MS Manager’ App Now Offers More Features, MSAA Announces The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) recently launched a new version of the My MS Manager, a mobile app designed to provide convenient services to the multiple sclerosis (MS) community. The app is powered by @Point of Care and is available as a free download…
June 5, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Claiming My MS and Accepting the Reality of My Disease Growing up in a spiritual family, I can remember hearing the words āwe are not going to claim it.ā These were words of comfort, hope, and support when a catastrophic event was impending. The dictum was to pray, believe in what you pray for, and to “not claim” whatever…
May 14, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson MS Is Frustrating, So It’s Healthy to Talk About It We all have taken advice or read about how to manage our multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. And we can share with our doctors, spouses, children, or friends about our experiences. But a far better emotional therapy is empathizing with a fellow MS warrior. People can’t understand living with MS…
May 9, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Canadian MS Patients, Economy Would Benefit from Improved Support Programs, Report Contends Improving financial support programs for those living with multiple sclerosis (MS) would increase workforce participation and boost economic activity, concluded a report published by the Conference Board of Canada in March, which wasĀ Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Today, about 100,000 Canadians live with MS, making Canada one of…
April 24, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson This Was Me Before Multiple Sclerosis: A Letter to MS At times I find myself speaking of and referencing my life before my MS diagnosis. My thoughts led to the creation of the following epistle. I believe that words are curative and the spirit absorbs what we speak. As you read my letter to multiple sclerosis, remember that you…
February 15, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell MS and Friends: Not All Are Created Equal I write in an effort to offer enlightenment. Yet, so often I find I am the one to receive an education. Such was the case with my column on relationships and MS ā or more pointedly, the feedback I received. While MS has…
February 7, 2018 Columns by Cathy Chester 6 ways to help you cope with and accept your MS diagnosis Last updated April 25, 2023 At the intersection of hope and despair is a bench to sit and rest. At least, I hope there is. The bench gives us an opportunity to take a breather from the stresses of the world. Itās a chance to sit and think about which…
December 5, 2017 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Treat Others as You Wish to Be Treated: An Open Letter to Our Spouses and Partners My journey in life has allowed me to connect with and meet people from all over the world. For this, I am blessed. Iāve met many diagnosed with MS and other chronic illnesses. All of our experiences are different and we have varying levels of support. A little while…
September 27, 2017 Columns by Cathy Chester New Video Series Aims to Lift the MS Community When youāre living with multiple sclerosis, itās important to surround yourself with a community of people who give you the kind of support and understanding you need. When I was diagnosed in 1986, there was no internet to help me find a community,…
May 11, 2017 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski The Importance of Caring for Caregivers “Coping with Caregiver Burnout When Caring for A Person with Neurodegenerative Disease: A Guide for Caregivers,” published in the April 2017 issue of the Archives for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is intended to give better insight into caregiver burnout, and what might be…
January 23, 2017 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson ‘It Could Be Worse:’ A Teachable Moment Have you ever had someone tell you “it could be worse?” They are making a valiant effort to comfort and console you. However, there is not much consolation in the words. They almost sound a bit insensitive. I have been told this several times. I think many people…
November 21, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Foundation Launches New Website and Redesigns Focus Magazine The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, whichĀ is celebrating its 30thĀ anniversary this year, has launched a new website to make access to information and services easier, and a newly designed MS Focus magazine. MS Focus magazine is the foundationās publication dedicated to common challenges, solutions, and stories of the…